Chapter 22 #2
I laughed. “Yes. A willoden can change water, both in form and temperature.”
“Amazing,” she whispered in awe, turning her hand around inside the dome.
“What are you two being so secretive about over here?”
We both jumped back, my magick fading as I dropped my hand, wiping my damp palm on my cloak. Tessa grinned like she’d caught us committing a crime.
“Hallizel!” Bes squealed with excitement.
The sprite fluttered over to Bes and zipped around her head, chittering excitedly. Bes danced in a circle, trying to chase the sprite. Saralyn giggled, watching the display.
“Bes, why don’t you take Saralyn off my hands while I help Jessamine? I could use a break.”
“Yay! Come see, Saralyn.” Bes clapped her hands then held them out to the babe, who raised her chubby arms with a giggle.
Bes took Saralyn outside the gate where they had more room to dance around with Hallizel.
“Saralyn is getting bigger by the day,” I noted, realizing the infant had more dark hair curling out of her head than the first day I met her.
“She is. And her first teeth, her fangs, are coming in. I actually came here to find a frozen delly root for her to teethe on.”
“That’s a good idea. You can take one of those, you don’t have to dig your own or help me. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
But she settled onto the wooden plank and lifted Bes’s trowel anyway. “Jessa, I am actually happy to do something besides breastfeed and comfort my crying baby.”
“She seems happy now.” I watched Bes twirl in the snow with a giggling Saralyn, Hallizel zipping and chirping around them.
“Bes can always make her laugh. I was happy to find you both here.”
I settled next to her and set to work, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me.
“It’s nice to have you here.”
She plopped a delly root in the basket. “I would’ve joined you sooner if I’d known.”
“That’s not what I mean.” I sighed. “It’s nice to be here with another light fae.”
She flashed a smile and nodded. “I know what you mean. I felt so out of place when I first came here with Bezaliel. He was the only one who I felt at home with, if that makes sense.”
“It makes perfect sense.” I remembered the way I had felt so right, a sense of belonging as I drifted off to sleep in Redvyr’s arms.
“But I am very glad you are here too.” She sat back on her heels. So did I. “It will be nice to have another light fae sister among the clan.”
“Oh.” Frowning, I glanced over at Dayn who had wandered closer to chat with Bes and tease the baby. “So you know.”
“Of course, I do. Bezaliel suspected before even Redvyr knew. Being mated to a beast fae is a wonderful thing. The bond is beautiful.”
“I’m not so sure the clan will think so.”
“Hmph. They weren’t sure about me either at first. But once they realized I was truly Bezaliel’s mate, and that I didn’t think myself above them, that I could contribute to the clan, they did finally accept me.”
“I hope they accept me too,” I admitted.
She stared at my neck for a moment. “Has he marked you yet?”
I frowned. “How do you mean?”
She tapped her own shoulder. “Did he bite you?”
I winced. “Why in the heavens would he do that?”
Tessa laughed. “It doesn’t hurt very much. It’s a superficial bite that embeds his scent on your skin. A beast fae always marks his mate to warn off others and make the bond permanent.” Her brow furrowed. “Redvyr hasn’t bitten you yet?”
Wondering at this strange ritual I had never heard of, I simply shook my head. Her expression softened to embarrassment as she turned back to the vegetables.
“He will, of course. I suppose he wants to speak to you about it before he does it. With you being a light fae, after all.”
“Did Bezaliel ask before he bit you?”
She paused before answering. “No.” Then she added lightly, “They believe they have no magick, other than their strength and heightened senses. But I felt it when the bond was made.”
“How do you mean?” I asked anxiously.
“When the bond is made with the bite, there is a distinct sensation of magick pouring through you. As if the gods are pleased we have honored the union.”
“Interesting,” I noted, digging more fiercely into the hard ground.
I couldn’t even pretend not to be frustrated that Redvyr hadn’t mentioned this to me. I’d given myself to him, and yet, he hadn’t chosen to seal our bond. Perhaps he was regretting it. I’d ask him at dinner.
He woke me this morning with his head between my thighs, licking me to an orgasm. He then stroked to his own release, coming on my belly and pussy. When I asked why, he said he knew I was sore from our rougher coupling the past two days.
I thought it kind, that he was being gentle with me. Now, I was angry that he was. Perhaps he thought I was too soft to take his bite, that I wouldn’t be able to handle the pain that came with sealing our bond.
“Jessa. It’s customary to chop the delly root just before you cook it, not when you’re trying to pull it out of the ground.”
I sighed, pulling up the poor vegetable hacked into thirds. “I’m just frustrated.”
“Redvyr is a frustrating male. Obstinate and headstrong.”
“Ha! You’re telling me.”
She laughed. “But you are his mate, Jessamine. Just tell him what you want.”
“I certainly will. Tonight, I’ll—”
A shrieking scream pierced the valley. We both jumped to our feet. My skin burned with the magick of the syrenskyn, suddenly flaring bright.
Dayn and the other guard on duty faced the woodlands, swords drawn when a second harrowing shriek echoed closer.
“Run!” Dayn shouted.
Hallizel zipped in quick circles around Bes’s head. “It’s them! It’s the grimlocks! Run, Bessie, Run!”
“Saralyn!” yelled Tessa.
We both ran for the gate, pushing it open right as six or seven grimlocks, no, more, darted in flight from the woodlands.
“Gods above,” I mumbled as three attacked Dayn.
Four attacked the other guard. He roared and sliced with his claws and sword, slaying one while three more gouged his face and throat with their dagger-like claws. I was nearly to Bes when I saw him fall.
“Hurry!”
I didn’t have time to look behind me as I grabbed Bes’s hand, Tessa scooping Saralyn into her arms, and we all ran for our lives. Beast fae warriors sprinted toward us from the camp, but the garden was too far away. We wouldn’t make it, and I knew it.
Running like wildfire, I heard them drawing closer. My syren claws descended.
“Keep going!” I screamed at Bes, letting her hand go as I whirled around at the grimlock nearly on top of us. More of them flew past me.
Swiping out at its throat, I gagged at the putrid stench of the creature.
Its eyes gleamed red from within a horrifying face.
It hissed through two rows of pointed, black teeth, and dodged my claws when I went for his throat again.
The creature beat his wings—shaped like a sprite’s wings with a green sheen—lifting above and then behind me.
Then he had his arms around my waist and my feet left the ground.
I screamed. Then an ungodly roar bellowed across the field. Redvyr was coming.